The company McCormack Baron, owner and manager of the affordable housing complex North Park at Scott Carver in Liberty City, Miami, publicly admitted that the property is in an "unacceptable condition," according to a report by The Miami Times featured by WLRN this Friday.
The recognition came in a statement dated October 13 addressed to The Miami Times, days after a tense community meeting held on October 8 in which residents reported leaks, potential mold, and repair requests that have gone unanswered for years.
"We share the frustration regarding the conditions of the properties in North Park," the company stated in its announcement.
McCormack Baron attributed the deterioration to more than a decade of insufficient federal subsidies that, they claimed, depleted reserves and forced delays in maintenance and capital improvements.
The company also acknowledged that this lack of funding "similarly affected the management and personnel resources of North Park, as well as the responsiveness and attention to the increasing complaints from residents."
However, the financial explanation did not convince the neighbors or the community organizations present at the meeting on October 8.
Trenise Bryant, Executive Director of Struggle for Miami's Affordable and Sustainable Housing (SMASH), was direct in pointing out responsibilities: “The administration is the problem. The administration does nothing when these people submit their maintenance requests. They are not fixed. They are ignored.”
Bryant also warned against repeating the displacements that have accompanied previous public housing renewal projects in the area and demanded that current issues be addressed before discussing future plans.
Jackie Walker, president of the North Park residents' council —a position she has held for three consecutive terms and a resident of the complex for approximately 13 years— summarized the collective sentiment: "These conditions didn't happen overnight. They have been ongoing, and we have been asking for help."
The complex features 354 apartments and townhomes, of which 177 are designated for public housing.
Meanwhile, Miami-Dade County is considering a possible conversion of the complex through the federal Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) program, which would transform the existing public assistance to allow for the rehabilitation of the units without demolishing them.
Kyle Flood, director of housing development for Miami-Dade, confirmed that North Park would be one of the first complexes in the county to implement this light rehabilitation approach, with temporary relocations lasting between 30 and 45 days. Units with more severe damage may require additional time.
Under this proposal, McCormack Baron affiliates are also negotiating a possible transfer of ownership and management to the developer Smith & Henzy.
However, the county has not approved the conversion, nor is there a confirmed timeline for the works; everything remains in the preliminary phase.
Walker said she was cautiously optimistic, although she noted that the administration had not reached out to her directly regarding the proposal at the time of her interview with The Miami Times. "It could be positive. It could be if everything they say is correct," she stated.
He concluded with a statement that summarizes the neighbors' stance: "We just want what's best for the residents of North Park."
The situation in North Park reflects a structural crisis of affordable housing in Miami-Dade, where almost 60% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on rent and the estimated deficit exceeds 90,000 affordable units for households with incomes below $75,000 annually.
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